The Irish standard., 1887-01-22
SuiI-Dhuv,
THE COIN-ER.
BY ERALD GRIFFIN,
Author of IS The Collegians." etc.
CHAPTER VI.-(Continued.)

toned Kumba with his hand 10 remain
in the darkness, where he was, and
passed into the room. This, with Its
inmates. was fully visible to the latter,
whose already excited brain was filled
with thousand new visions OF terror,
as his eye wandered over the details OF
scene, with which were associated even
the horrors of his infant life, when the
name of the blood-stained gang, on the
threshold of whose lair he nov stood.
was used to quell the peevish quernlous-
ness of his childish heart-and made
him cling with nurmers of dependent
anxiety to the bosom OF his fosterer.
A large fire, formed with a mixt11le OF
culm and heavy turf, supplied the prln-
cipal portion of the light by which the
inmates Of the place were enabled to
carry on their secret toll. Moan the
centre of the room, the farther end OF
which was ALMOST completely enveloped
in the evolutions Of black and sui
phurous smoke, was an engine at work,
the whitish and wavering light OF the
furnace revealing, i'll ftful alterations
Of brilliancy and gloom, the agea couu~
tanance Of the artidcer, white~h haired
nan, whose large glistening eyes, and
hoary, straight locks presented ghastly
contrast to his smutted and wasted fea-
lures. The effect of this figure on Kun
ba's heart was such as might be occas-
ioped by sudden indication OF life Oh
the features Of mummy. Around this
person number Of figures were con-
stantly fitting through the uncertain
light, some young, come advanced i'll
years---ihe eountenances of all marked
with degree Of sternness which conld
not but be considered as the result OF
habitual ferocity Of temper, and which
was rendered doubly forcible and repugg-
rant in it's effect by the mrrk and dusky
hue which the features had acquired
from the thickened atmosphere around
them. Kimba sarnnk back in7oluntar-
lily whenever any Of their eyes happened
to glance IN his direction, although
moments consideration might have
satisfied Linn that he was perfectly
sheltered from observation by the dark
ness in which be stood. The men were,
for the most part, uncoated, the sleeves
of their coarse and i)lackened bandie-
l1nen shirts being tucked UP, after the
fashion of placksmiths, about their
shoulders their harsh, brown chests
half exposed, aud their hands employed
with various tools, OF the immediate
use Of which the unseen spectator was
ignorant. Notwithstanding the anxiety
even approaching 10 terror, which
made the heart of the latter knock
fercely against his ribs as he gazed
upon the scene, and although he deemed
an introduction to this fearful circle
OF desperadoes as little. less than q
leath-varrant, he could not resist the
emotions OF that violent and unacco,1nt-
able curiosity which compels q man SO
strongly to neglect all other considera-
tions When weighed against the oppor-
tunit7 Of it's qualification, and which
seems to increase precisely in proper
tion to the extent OF the danger which
il involves. Hearing Spellacy engaged
in conversation with Il number of per-
sons at little distance inside, and
anxious. lie thought not wherefore, to
learn the purport OF their conversation.
he began to mediate a nearer ap-
proach. A heap OF turf, gradually as
cepding to the very roof, and extend
ing several feet into the room, appeared
TO afford the best means he could de-
sire of accomplishing this purpose. He
crept cautiously up, trembling in all
his limbs. as the action Of his person
seemed to menace the unstable pile Of
neat sods with general downfall.
In few seconds he lay lengthwlse
5:,v;nin a foot OF the thatched root,
while the knot Of confabulators was
visible Immediately beneath his eye.
His friend Spellacy, whom he now sur
veyed with new and fearful interest
since he became invested, by his own
ayowal, with all the terrible associations
connected with the name Of Suil Dhuv,
the Coiner, was standing in the centre
of the group, one Of whom was in the
act of concluding q detail, which ap-
,,eared to excite feeling Of displeas'1re
and perplexity in the mind OF their
leader.
.s.And that's the way Of it, just" the
fellow continued, throwing up his hands
in hopeless way, call at stand for
the wash to give 'em color. l rise out
of it for business entirely. I'll take
spade, like Jerry O'Gilvy, and work
drass. av I don't want to be starved. all
out"
t.Whist! you innocent!' said fair